ObjectiveTo explore the effective methods to improve the pulmonary function and life quality of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).Methods48 IPF patients were randomly divided into two groups, each group includes 24 cases. Group A was treated with prednisone 0.5 mg/kg per day orally, reduce half of the dosage 4 weeks later and Fluimucil 600 mg three times per day orally, while group B with prednisone 0.5 mg/kg per day orally, reduce half of the dosage 4 weeks later. The clinical manifestation, pulmonary function testing, high-resolution CT of the chest, arterial blood gas analysis were observed before and 3 months after treatment. ResultsThere was significant difference in Group A (P<0.05) but no significant difference in Group B (P>0.05) before and after treatment in the pulmonary function testing and arterial blood gas analysis. There was significant difference after treatment in the pulmonary function testing and arterial blood gas analysis between Group A and Group B (P<0.05).There was significant difference after treatment in the clinical manifestation, high-resolution CT of the chest and between Group A and Group B (P<0.05). ConclusionHigh dose Fluimucil can ameliorate the pulmonary function, relieve the symptom of short breath of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Objective To study the effect of pine root liquid on the fermentation Poria mycelia yield and content of water-soluble polysaccharide, and difference between fermentation Poria mycelium and the natural Poria. Methods Poria mycelia was cultured with pine root solution and non-fermented liquid, the production of water-soluble polysaccharide content was compared. The content of water-soluble polysaccharide of fermentation mycelia and natural Poria was also compared. Results The production of fermentation Poria mycelia cultured with pine root liquid increased slightly, but water-soluble polysaccharide content decreased. Water-soluble polysaccharide content in Poria mycelia was significantly higher than that in natural Poria. Conclusion Pine root solution has different effect on fermentation Poria mycelia yield and polysaccharide content. Water-soluble polysaccharide content in Poria fermentation mycelia was higher than natural Poria.

Objective:To study the effects of several herbal medicines on SMMC-7721 liver cancer cells with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer(FTIR). Methods: FTIR was employed to determine the infrared spectra(IRs) of SMMC-7721 liver cancer cells cultivated for 20 h with the extracts of Spica prunellae, Herba houttuyniae, Radix bupleuri and Herba artemisiae scopariae. Cluster analysis of IRs was also performed. Results: IR spectral parameters such as band shape, intensity and frequency of the blank, control and herbal-extract-treated cells were compared. There existed obvious blue shift of ? s(PO 2 -), ? as (PO 2 -) bands, red shift of ? as (CH 3), ?(CH 2) bands on the herbal-extract-treated cells IRs. The decreasing ratio of ? as (CH 3) to ? s(CH 2) peak intensity and the increasing ratio of ? s(PO 2 -) to ?(N-H) peak area indicated the destructive effect of herbal extracts on the membrane structure of SMMU-7721 cells and inhibitory effect on the DNA replication respectively. Cluster analysis successfully discriminated the herbal-extract-treated cells from the blank cells and the liver-oriented medicines from the non-liver-oriented medicine. Conclusion: FTIR provides another fast and effective approach to analyze the changes of cells treated with Chinese herbal medicines, which may help to illuminate the functional mechanism of Chinese herbal medicines.

Objective To analyse the effects of serum estradiol levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods The clinical data of 472 patients undergoing IVF-ET with GnRH analogues recombinant FSH long protocol were retrospectively analysed. The area under the curve (AUC) of estradiol (E2) level was calculated during COH, and patients were categorized into groups according to the percentile of AUC of E2(AUCE2) during COH. The general characteristics and parameters related to the outcomes of IVF-ET were compared among groups. Results The 10th percentile and 90th percentile of AUCE2 were 3 347.0 pmoL/L and 14 414.3 pmol/L, respectively. Four hundred and seventy-two patients were divided into lower reaction group (AUCE2 3 347.0 pmol/L, n=48), normal reaction group (14 414.3 pmol/L>AUCE2 > 3 347.0 pmol/L, n=376) and higher reaction group (AUCE2≥14 413.3 pmol/L, n=48). There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, baseline follicle stimulating hormone level, time of treatment with gonadotropin, endometrium thickness on day of transfer and embryos transferred(P>0.05). Compared with lower reaction group and normal reaction group, the number of oocytes per retrieval and number of embryos frozen were significantly larger(P<0.01) and the mild/severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome rate was significantly higher in higher reaction group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in fertilization rate, cumulative embryo score, high-grade embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate among groups (P> 0.05). Conclusion Sustained snpraphysiological serum E2 levels during the COH process do not adversely affect the quality of oocytes and embryos, clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate to some extent in IVF-ET.

Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Juvenile ; therapy ; Biological Products ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Humans

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; poisoning ; Cardiomyopathies ; etiology ; therapy ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; Electrocardiography ; Foodborne Diseases ; blood ; complications ; therapy ; Glutamyl Aminopeptidase ; blood ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; etiology ; Seizures ; etiology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study whether the analgesis of oxymatrine (OMT) affects N-type voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs).

METHODSTotally 45 mice were randomly divided into the sham-operation group, the model group [established by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL)] , and the OMT treatment group according to random digit table, 15 in each group. The dorsal root ganglions (DRG) were separated in PSNL pain model mice. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) was determined with Fluo-3 AM immunofluorescent probe in cultured DRG neurons. Different protein expression levels of N-type (Cav2. 2) and L-type ( Cav1. 3) among VGCCs from brain and DRG tissues were detected with Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operation group, [Ca2+]i, increased in cultured DRG neurons (P <0. 05) , protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in the brain tissue increased (P <0. 05), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in DRG tissues decreased in the model group (P <0. 01). Compared with the model group, [Ca2+]i, decreased in cultured DRG neurons (P < 0. 05), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in the brain tissue decreased (P <0. 01), protein expression levels of Cav2. 2 in DRG tissues increased in the OMT treatment group (P <0. 01). There was no statistical difference in Cav1. 3 expressions in cultured DRG neurons and the brain (P >0. 05).

CONCLUSIONAnalgesic effect of OMT might be related to Cav2. 2 channel mediated calcium ion flux.

Alkaloids ; pharmacology ; Analgesia ; methods ; Analgesics ; pharmacology ; Aniline Compounds ; Animals ; Calcium ; Calcium Channels, N-Type ; physiology ; Ganglia, Spinal ; Mice ; Neurons ; Pain ; Quinolizines ; pharmacology ; Xanthenes

OBJECTIVE:To systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of modified infusion(2-4 h infusion or continuous 24 h infusion)versus traditional infusion(0.5-1 h infusion)of meropenem in the treatment of severe infectious,and to provide evi-dence-based reference for clinic treatment. METHODS:Retrieved from Medline,CJFD,VIP database and Wanfang database, modified infusion(test group)versus traditional infusion(control group)of meropenem in the treatment of severe infections were collected,and Mata-analysis was performed by using Rev Man 5.0 statistical software after extracting data and evaluating quality. RESULTS:A total of 13 studies were included,involving 1 012 patients. Results of Meta-analysis showed the effective rate [RR=1.25,95%CI(1.10,1.43),P<0.001] and bacterial eradication rate [RR=1.25,95%CI(1.05,1.48),P=0.01] in test groups were sig-nificantly higher than those of control group,and there were no significant differences in the mortality rate [RR=0.74,95%CI (0.46,1.18),P=0.21] and incidence of adverse reactions [RR=0.81,95%CI(0.48,1.39),P=0.45]. CONCLUSIONS:Compared with traditional infusion of meropenem,extended or continuous infusion can improve efficacy in the treatment of severe infections, with similar safety. Due to methodology limit of included studies,large-scale and high quality RCT are required for further valida-tion of the conclusions.

Objective To study the inhibition of AP-1 transcription factor activity by Hint1 gene over expression in HepG2 cell lines. Methods The Hintl gene was amplified, and then was inserted into the pcDNA3/HA eukaryotic expression plasmid. The constructed pHA-Hint1 plasmid was confirmed by DNA sequencing. The pHA-Hint1 was transfected into the HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western-blot were used to detecte the expression of HA-Hint1. The HepG2 cells were co-transfected with pHA-Hint1 and pAP-1/Luc luciferase reporter. At 36 h after transfection, luciferase assay system was used to detect the AP-1 transcription factor activity. Results The constructed pHA-Hint1 was confirmed by DNA sequencing, pHA-Hint1 gene transduction through lipofectine induced over-expression in HA-Hint1 mRNA (t =3.89, P<0.05) and HA-Hintl protein (t=3. 12, P<0.05). Co-transfection of Hint1 gene inhibits AP-1 luciferase activity. Cotransfection with increased concentration of a pHA-Hint1 plasmid (0 μg/ml, 0. 5 μg/ml, 1.0 μg/ml, 1.5 μg/ml, 2. 0 μg/ml) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of AP-1 transcription factor activity. At the concentration of 1.5 μg/ml, and 2.0 μg/ml, the activity inhibition reaches significant difference ( F = 72. 009, P < 0. 05 ). Conclusion Over-expression of Hintl can, at least in part, inhibit the AP-1 transcription factor activity in HepG2 cells.

Objective To evaluate the possible factors that may influence the resting energy expenditure (REE) in patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer. Methods Totally, 40 patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer were prospectively collected from November 2008 to June 2009 in Xinhua Hospital. Nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS 2002) was performed. REE and body composition were measured using indirect calorimetry and bioeletrical impedence method, respectively. Results Twenty-seven (67.5%) patients were found with nutrition risk, and NRS score was negatively correlated with prealbumin ( r = - 0.444, P = 0.004) and albumin levels (r = - 0.386, P = 0.014). Measured REE and predicted REE values were ( 6770 ± 1360) and (6021 ± 841 ) kJ/d, respectively (P ＜ 0.001 ). Among all 40 patients, 57.5% of them were hypermetabolic,30.0% were normal, and 12.5% were hypometabolic. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that fat free mass was the only significant determinant variable for REE (P ＜ 0.001 ). Conclusion Fat free mass is a factor than can influence the energy metabolism in patients with newly diagnosed esophageal cancer.